Motor for washing-machines.



No. 783,656. I PATENTED FEB. 28, 1905. W. E. WAGNER.

MOTOR FOR WASHING MACHINES. .AIPLIGATION FILED JUNE 6, 1904.

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lllrvimn Sr Patented February 28, 190% tEEDOM, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIG-NOR LA MOTTE, OF N Ell FREEDOM, PENN- WlGlTUl-t FUR Wi l$HIlNG-WIACHlNESi ISJPECIFICA'IION forming part of Letters Patent No. 783,656, dated February 28, 1905. Application filed June 6, 1904. Serial No. 211,357.

To all ZU/I/{HH/ it may concern..-

Be it known that l, W ILI'JAM E. VVAGNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Freedom, in the county of York and State of flennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Motors for VVashing- Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved opcrating mechanism specially devised for operating washing-machines of the type cmbodying an oscillatory washing-receptacle.

The invention aims to attain a maximum degree of simplicity relative to the arrange ment of the operating parts, and special means are provided for regulating the speed at which the washing-receptacle is driven in the operation of cleaning clothes, said means comprising an essential feature of the invention.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings.

lVhile the essential and characteristic featu res of the invention are susceptible of modilication, still the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view showing operating mechanism embodying the invention applied to a washing-machine. Fig. 2 is a hori zontal sectional view looking down, bringing out more clearly the arrangcmentof the cooperating gears. Fig. 3 is a partial vertical section showing the mounting of the drivingspring and adjacent devices for winding same.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

As before premised, the operating mechanism which comprises my invention is designed for use in washing-machines of the class utilizing a wash tub or receptacle mounted for oscillatory movement, and it will be understood that the invention may be used in connection with any structure of machine such as above mentioned.

in general structure the machine consists of a stand composed of a top .1, a bottom 2., and supporting-u prights 2), interposed between the top and bottom to space these parts from each other. The stand is preferably mounted upon legs 4 of suitable form for the purpose of the invention, and the wash receptacle or tub 5 is supported upon the top of the stand,

being mounted upon a main shaft 6, said shaft extending upwardly through the bottom of the tub 5.

The mechanism which constitutes the essential feature of my invention is that which actuates the tub 5 so as to effect the necessary oscillatory movement of this receptacle, and the said mechanism is disposed between the top 1 and bottom 2 of the stand above described. ln carrying out the invention a spring-motor is utilized as the primary source of power, said motor being connected by suitable gearing. so as to actuate the washing-receptacle. Mounted in bearingsprovided in the top and bottom of the stand is a vertical winding-shaft 11, and a spring- 16 of the ordinary coil type is disposed about the windingshaft, one end of the spring being secured to said shaft, the other end being suitably attached to one of the uprights 3 adjacent. A ratchet-wheel 12 upon the winding-shaft is engaged by a spring-pawl 13, which latter s carried by an actuating-lever 14, having a handle 15, by which it may be actuated. The lever 14 is pivoted to the winding-shaft 11 and is operated by a pivotal movement, so as to wind the spring 16 in the usual manner. The lever 14. is normally held with its pawl 13 out of engagement with the wheel 12 by means of the pin 14-, carried by the chain 15, said pin passing through the lever and the handle of said pawl, thereby permitting the wheel 21 to rotate without moving the lever 14. A drive-shaft 18 is mounted also in bear ings in the top and bottom of the stand, and motion is communicated to the drive-shaft 18 by means of cooperating gear-wheels .19, 20, and 21. The gear-wheel 19 is carried by the drive-shaft, the gear-wheel 21 by the Winding-shaft, and the gear-wheel by an intermediate shaft 22. The upper end of the driveshaft 18 passes upwardly through the bearing in the top 1 of the stand and is provided with a drive-wheel 23. The wheel 28 is connected by a pitman 24: to a Wrist-pin 2a, which is rigidly attached to the under side of the bottom 8 of the tub 5 and is constantly driven when the machine is operated, so as to actuate the tub and impart the necessary movement thereto.

In order to govern the speed of the washing-receptacle in its movement, a brake is provided which cooperates with the driveshaft 18, so as to govern the speed of this shaft as the spring unwinds. The brake consists of a lever 25,pivoted to an adjacent standard 25 upon the bottom or base 2 of the stand at a point between its ends, one end of the lever 25 being bifurcated to form the spaced brake-arms 26, the opposite end being actuated by a spring 27, as will be more fully described. The brake-arms 26 are spaced and are adapted to engage an integral cone 28 at the upper portion of the drive-shaft 18. The frictional contact of the arms 26 gives the necessary brake action, and in order to regulate the pressure of said arms against the cone 28 the following parts are provided: The spring 27 is a coil-spring and is mounted upon a rigid bar 29, projected upwardly from the bottom 2 adjacent the outer end of the lever 25, the upper end of the bar 29 being threaded to receive an adjusting-wheel 30. The spring 27 is interposed between the lever and the base 2. The adjustment of the wheel 30 is such as to admit of regulation of the pressure of the arms 26 against the cone 28, and the normal tendency of the spring 27 is to hold said arms away from the cone 28.

hen the machine is in operation, the unwinding of the spring 16 transmits motion to the drive-shaft 18 by means of the connectinggears 19, 20, and 21. Revolution of the driveshaft imparts similar movement to the drivewheel 23, and the latter as it revolves actuates the washing-receptacle through its pitman connection therewith, as before set forth. Regulation of the wheel or member 30 governs the movement of the drive-shaft.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In operating mechanism for washing-machines and the like, the combination of a Winding-shaft, a drive-shaft, means for communicating motion from the winding-shaft to the drive-shaft, a brake-lever pivoted between its,

ends, a cone carried by the drive-shaft and engaged by the brake-lever at one end of said lever, and means for adjusting the opposite end of the brake-lever for the purpose specified.

2. In operating mechanism for Washing-machines and the like, the combination of a stand, a winding-shaft mounted on the stand, a spring mounted upon the winding shaft, a driveshaft, a cone carried by the drive-shaft, gears communicating motion from the winding-shaft to the drive-shaft, a drive-wheel carried by the drive-shaft, a pi voted brake-lever mounted upon the stand and bifurcated at one end to form spaced brake-arms engaging the cone of the drive-shaft, an adjusting-bar at the opposite end of the brake-lever, and a spring cooperating with the brake-lever.

3. In operating mechanism for washing-machines or the like, the combination of a stand, a winding-shaft journaled in the stand, a spring mounted upon the winding-shaft for actuation thereof, ad rive-shaft mounted upon the stand, gears communicating motion from the winding-shaft to the drive-shaft, a cone carried by the drive-shaft between the ends thereof, a

drive-wheel mounted upon the upper end of the drive-shaft, a lever pivoted at a point between its ends to an adjacent upright of the same, one end of the lever being bifurcated to form spaced brake-arms frictionally engaging the cone of the drive-shaft, an adjustingbar extending from the stand and passing through the other end of the brake-lever, a spring disposed between the brake-lever and the stand aforesaid and mounted upon the adjusting-bar, and an adjustable wheel mounted upon the adjusting-bar for adjusting the position of the lever.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM E. IVAGNER. [L. s] WVitnesses:

GEORGE T. KEEHLING, .IVILLIAM E. HOFFAOKER. 

